Remotely Powered Propulsion of Helical Nanobelts

Self-propulsion capable nanorobots in low Reynolds number fluids would have a big technological impact in many fields. Few known mechanisms are able to make propel such devices. Here we demonstrate that helical nanobelts can swim in liquid actuated by an electro-osmotic force generated by electric field. The helical nanobelts were designed and fabricated with a head and tail to mimic the nature’s micro-organisms such as bacteria and their flagella. The electro-osmotic propulsion of helical nanobelts can be used as biomedical carriers, wireless manipulators, and as local probes for rheological measurements.